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U.S. Currency - How Money is Made.

Currency production at the BEP is quite different from its beginnings in 1862, which consisted of a handful of people separating notes with a hand-cranked machine in the basement of the Treasury building. The production of U.S. currency is not an easy or simple task, but one that involves highly trained and skilled craftspeople, specialized equipment, and a combination of traditional old world printing techniques merged with sophisticated, cutting edge technology. There are numerous, distinctive steps required in the production process.

3) SiderographyIn simplest terms, siderography is the means by which multiple images of the hand-engraved die are transferred to a printing plate.

4) Plate MakingThe plastic master plates are transferred from siderography and used by plate makers to create hundreds of identical printing plates — identical because they are all based on the same master.

5) Paper & InkThe paper and ink used in the production of U.S. paper currency is as distinct as its design.

6) Offset PrintingWith the introduction of the redesigned $20s in 2003, subtle background colors were added to the currency to enhance the security. For these denominations, offset printing is the first printing that occurs on the "blank" paper.

7) Plate PrintingIn the plate printing process, ink is applied to a plate so that it remains only in the engraved areas.

8) InspectionIn order to ensure only the highest quality sheets move to the numbering operation, sheets are thoroughly examined using state-of-the-art computer technology.

9) COPEThe acronym COPE stands for Currency Overprinting Processing Equipment. COPE presses in this section utilize the letter press printing process which is the third and final type of printing utilized by BEP for paper currency.

10) LEPEThe BEP refers to the process as “LEPE,” which stands for Large Examining Printing Equipment. The LEPE acronym is a BEP label, and not an industry name. LEPE machines are state-of-the-art equipment, specicially designed for the BEP, that consolidate four currency production processes.

11) PackagingPackaging Operations is the final stage of the 32-subject currency production process before the currency is shipped to BEP's customer, the Federal Reserve.